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Saturday, December 3, 2011

Progress

The biggest part of my progress is the tidied-up gravel, and I did wind up moving the broken cement pieces that I had intimated was not high on my project list. The gravel paths were such a mess that a semi-total makeover was necessary, so I decided on a medallion of sorts at the intersection of the paths. I like it, but when the granite dust settles deeper and I refresh it with some new gravel, I think it will look better. A good rain will help and some bleach on the cement pieces.

I’m debating with myself about what the featured plant will be in the new bed. At first it was the white hydrangea, but now I’m thinking about David Austin’s ‘Mary Rose’. Sizewise, I think it would be a good fit plus it will get a bit shade from ‘Francois Juranville’ overhead plus I really have no place else to put Mary. I had penciled her into the corner where the pink flags are in the photo below, but the space in real life is smaller than it looked on paper. The only doubt I have is how much room will be left for daylilies.

In the original part of the new bed I turned the soil, dug out the tree roots and divided the beautiful unknown daylily that was growing there. I really hate slamming a shovel through the middle of a daylily clump, but I guess that's how they do it. I also added some organics to the new soil, i.e., Holly-Tone, Milorganite and alfalfa pellets.

The leftovers will go to the "pink flag" corner and to the driveway bed. I used so much composted horse manure in the preparation of that bed that it has sunk, so it will get some replenishment. Maybe Monday I’ll go back to the Dirt Pile for the granite for the new path, but in order to do that I have to move this topsoil and before I can do that I have to dig up the ‘Giant Apostle's Iris’ and some other undesirable plants in that bed. For some reason I’ve been procrastinating on that one. What will I do with all those baby giants??

And today is our 34th wedding anniversary. Another good one. Thank you, Dear Husband, for a wonderful life.

Happy Anniversary! Sherry, you are putting a lot of work into this, but I can already 'see' that it's going to be a wonderful place to meander slowly, enjoying every bloom and plant, and to sit and enjoy the beauty. You're creating a wonderful place!

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Welcome, rosey friends!

There is much to share and much to learn about growing roses well and chemical free in hot and humid Florida. I dearly hope some of you will make the leap to growing the roses that I love even though they may be different from the ones you know. Tag along, join in, let's get to know each other and especially let's get to know Old Garden Roses. I believe I am and you'll be happier gardeners for having done so.

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Latitude & Longitude : Where I'm At

29° 21' N / 82° 07' W

About Me

Without roses how would I have learned the depth of patience and persistence that is peculiar to the garden? How would I have known the sense of accomplishment that came from nurturing these roses and their other plant friends so that they could grow and thrive and be called a garden? On second thought perhaps it's been the other way around, and the roses have been nurturing the gardener. The new wrinkle in my life is the stroke suffered by my darling husband on May 18, 2013, putting the garden on hold and sending us down the proverbial rabbit hole. Life is full of twists and turns, isn't it?

The Lord God planted a garden In the first white days of the world; And placed there an angel warden, In a garment of light unfurled. So near to the peace of heaven, The hawk might nest with the wren; For there, in the cool of the even, God walked with the first of men.

And I dream that these garden closes, With their shade and their sun-flecked sod, And their lilies and bowers of roses Were laid by the hand of God. The kiss of the sun for pardon, The song of the birds for mirth, One is nearer God's Heart in a garden Than anywhere else on earth.

Gardener's Blessing

Ralph Emerson Purkhiser

May God grant thee Enough sun to warm the earth, Enough rain to make things grow, A good strong back, A wide brimmed hat, And a good sharp goose-neck hoe, Strength for a day of toil And some quiet evening hours, With a sip of tea And a gentle breeze, And may all your weeds be wildflowers.